Toy and track therefor



Dec. 27, 1949 c. P. RENDINE 2,492,319

TOY AND TRACK THEREFOR Filed April 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

Inventor Clarence P. Rendine 7, 1949 c. P, RENDINE TOY AND TRACK THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1948 Fig;2.

Inventor Clarence P. Rendine y W Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY AND TRACK THEREFOR Clarence P. Rendine, Connellsville, Pa.

Application April 22, 1948, Serial No. 22,519

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an amusement toy and is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with a Christmas tree to give the effect of Santa Claus and his reindeer traveling over a miniature village to thereby enhance the enjoyment of Christmas by the realistic picture thus obtained.

An object of the invention is to provide means that will enable the device to travel in upward and downward motion, and at different vertical levels while still remaining in upright position at all times, thus simulating the undulating motion of reindeer drawing a sleigh.

A further object of the invention is to enable the mechanical parts to be hidden so that the movement of the device will be realistic in that no means for actuating same is visible.

And another object of the invention is to enable the device to be placed below a Christmas tree and within the confines of a toy village, with its mechanical parts hidden so that the movement of the sleigh and reindeer appears more realistic while permitting other objects and items to be added and yet not interfering with the normal use of the tree and display but enhancing the Christmas illusion.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide means for obtaining an undulating motion in an amusement device which is simple to manufacture, economical in cost, readily operable, and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description.

'In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like characters of reference denote like parts throughout,

Figure l is a plan View of the amusement toy;

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation of the toy;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on lines 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View as taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a Vertical view of the end sprocket wheel and the means for mounting same; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the conveyor used to carry the toy.

Referring to the figures, the present invention is indicated generally by numeral it and consists of Santa Claus l2 seated in a sleigh l4 and driven by reindeer l6. Reindeer 16 are eight in number, as is usual with pictures depicting Santa Claus being drawn in his sleigh and delivering his toys l8. Reindeer i6 and sleigh M are suspended from the conveyor means 20 by suitable 2 transparent wires or strands 22 which are very fine in construction so that they are barely visible when in use.

In order to obtain the undulating motion desired, the conveyor 26 is trained about a pair of large end sprocket wheels 24 and 26 which are spaced a distance equivalent to that the sleigh and reindeer are to travel. Sprocket gear wheel 24 is mounted on an end stand 28 which includes a base 30 supporting integrally therewith a bottom section of a vertical support 32 to which is attached by suitable clamping means 34 the sprocket gear 24. Support 32 is made in two sections, in telescopic arrangement, and includes a retaining collar 36 in which a clamping wing nut screw 38 is threadedly engaged for retention of the standard in a selected position. An adjustable end standard as of similar structure is provided as is a centrally located, vertically adjustable standard 40. The frame 42 is welded at its opposite ends to the end standards 30 and 39 and is additionally supported by central standard 40. The frame 42 comprises a pair of spaced rails forming a semi-circular mounting for sprocket mounting rods or carriers 44 which are welded or otherwise secured to the frame at various different levels of both horizontal and vertical positions in staggered relationship. Sprocket wheels 46 of somewhat smaller diameter than sprocket wheels 24- and 25 are retained on the ends of the carriers 44. It is to be noted that rods 44 are placed at various angles of elevation so that in the travel of sleigh l4 and the reindeer IB, they will assume a low position at approximately the center of the toy, rising to an elevated height at either extremity and providing an undulating motion.

Conveyor 2B is formed from links of a ladder type which are U-shaped in design, the lateral arms 50 thereof terminating in vertically turned rings 52 to receive the transverse connecting arms 54 of the next succeeding link in the conveyor. A plurality of adapter rings 56, to which strands 22 are secured, are attached to selected links and provide the means for suspending the sled and reindeer for travel with the conveyor.

A motor 58 of conventional design (Figures 3 and 4), in suitable connection with a gear reduction assembly to, is enclosed in a housing 62 secured by means of locking bolts 64 to a supporting plate 66 retained on frame 42 at one end thereof by bolts 68. Secured to the end of the drive shaft 10 of the motor 58 is the sprocket wheel 26. Thus, sprocket wheel 26 is the drive sprocket for the conveyor 20.

Frame 42 1s sectional in construction and is joined together by couplings 16 and are retained in position by wing nuts 14. It is, therefore, apparent that the frame 42 may be laterally adjusted to increase the tension of conveyor 43 whenever necessary in order to insure efficient operation of the device.

Framework 42 as well as the rest of the device can be camouflaged with artificial pine branches or a plastic canopy of such design and color as will blend with the Christmas tree itself and the arcuate shape thereof is such that it may readily be placed beneath the Christmas tree branches and within the confines of a village in miniature that may have been set up under the tree. A remarkable illusion of a driven team of reindeer and guided by Santa Claus himself is thus obtained.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. A toy comprising a frame, driven means secured to the ends of said frame, a conveyor trained around said driven means, conveyor guide means secured to said frame and engaging '4 said conveyor, said conveyor guide means including laterally spaced carrier rods bent at different angles to vertically stagger the ends thereof, and means to drive said conveyor.

2. A toy comprising a laterally adjustable semi-circular frame, sprocket wheels secured to the ends of said frame, said sprocket wheels being vertically supported by adjustable standards, said frame being supported by an intermediate adjustable standard medial of said end sprockets, other sprocket wheels mounted on the ends of carrier rods secured to said frame, said carrier rods being laterally spaced and bent at different angles to vertically stagger the ends thereof, a conveyor trained around said end sprockets and said other sprockets and means engaging one of said end sprockets for actuation of said toy.

CLARENCE P. RENDINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this .patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 393,530 Wilde Nov. 27, 1888 779,568 Taylor Jan. 10, 1905 1,566,429 Rosino Dec. 22, 1925 2,087,232 Constam July 20, 1937 2,461,686 Hiebert Feb. 15, 1949 

